Skin cleaner

ABSTRACT

A SKIN CLEANER OF THE YPE HAVING PLASTIC SYNTHETIC RESIN MATERIALS IN A FINE STATE OF COMMINUTION INCLUDED THEREIN SO AS TO IMPART A SCRUBBING OR MECHANICAL DETERSIVE ACTION THERTO.

United States Patent 3,645,904 SKIN CLEANER Willis J. Beach, Saginaw,Mich., assignor to Sugar Beet Products Company, Saginaw, Mich. N0Drawing. Filed July 27, 1967, Ser. No. 656,326 Int. Cl. Clld 9/04 US.Cl. 252-89 10 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A skin cleaner of thetype having plastic synthetic resin materials in a fine state ofcomminution included therein so as to impart a scrubbing or mechanicaldetersive action thereto.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION This invention relates to a novel skin cleaner andmore particularly to skin cleaners having plastic synthetic resinmaterial in a fine state of comminution included therein so as to imparta scrubbing or mechanical detersive action thereto. While the concept ofutilizing plastic synthetic resin material in a fine state ofcomminution is also contemplated for use with dry powder, granulated, orbar soap compositions, it is particularly intended for use with skincleaners of the cream, lotion and liquid types. The plastic syntheticresin materials contemplated herein are relatively soft or resilient atambient conditions of temperature and pressure.

It has been old in the art to provide'liquid abrasive cleaners orcleansers which are provided with abrasive particles therein. The patentof Gangwich (2,210,286) and Saperstein et al. (3,092,111) areillustrative of such cleaners where it is contemplated that the abrasiveutilized in the liquid is comprised of such well known mineral-basedmaterials as aluminum oxide, synthetic alumina, Corundum, volcanic ash,diatomaceous earth, ben tonite, Velspar, humum and mixtures thereof andsiliceous abrasives such as silica.

However, it has been found that skin cleaners utilizing mineral basedabrasives have problems associated with their use. Such abrasives areinherently comprised of substantially non-resilient particles which arerelatively hard and which have sharp surfaces so as to effect macro ormicro abrasions of the skin. Such cleaners of the prior art have beenfound to scratch or otherwise damage other surfaces in connection withwhich they are used. For instance, such abrasive particles causeexcessive wear to plastic or metal dispensers from which cleanersutilizing such abrasive particles are dispensed.

Thus, the use of cleaners or cleansers of the priar art which utilizesuch abrasive particles not only may irritate or harm the skin beingcleansed therewith, but have also been known to damage other surfacesupon which or in connection with which they are used.

In addition, the use of such abrasive cleansers of the prior known arthave utilized abrasive particles of mineral or inorganic nature whichare relatively heavy and which create maintenance problems in that theyare difiicult to be flushed and washed away from surfaces upon whichthey have been deposited or from plumbing in industrial wash drains intowhich they have been poured.

It has therefore been an object of this invention to provide a cleanerfor skin which has plastic synthetic resin particles provided thereinwhich impart a scrubbing or mechanical detersive action thereto, butwhich does not irritate the skin or damage the surface upon which it isused.

A further object of this invention is to provide a cleaner for skinwhich does not cause excessive wear to plastic or metal dispensercontainers from which it is dispensed.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a method of preparingfinely comminuted plastic synthetic resin particles and incorporatingthem into a skin cleaner compos1t1on.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a skin cleanerwhich utilizes plastic synthetic resin scrubber particles therein butwhich does not clog drains into which it is poured.

The preferred embodiment of this invention consists of the addition offinely comminuted plastic synthetic resin scrubber particles to 1) skincleansing creams of soap and non-soap nature, (2) those of the so calledwaterless type and (3) skin cleaners of liquid or lotion consistency.The plastic synthetic resin scrubber particles are added in amounts andparticle sizes suitable to impart a moderate but persistent degree ofscrubbing action during use.

The preferred embodiment of the invention utilizes plastic syntheticresins which are selected from among those known to be neither a primaryirritant nor an allergic sensitizer when in contact with the skin.Criteria used in the selection of a suitable plastic resin for formingthe plastic resin scrubber particles are primarily 1) safety to the skin(inertness), (2) compatability with ingredients, to products considered,and (3) low abrasion properties. Additional criteria utilized inselecting suitable plastic resin materials are 1) density, and (2) cost.The most suitable plastics found were the relatively soft and inertplastics of the polyolefin family. More particularly, they arepolyethylene, polypropylene and polystyrene. How ever, any plasticresins having the same general overall characteristics would besuitable, provided that the size and configuration of the particles areas described herein.

The particle size of the comminuted plastic resin material should besuch that all particles pass a 40 mesh screen, US. Standard Sieve. Insome applications, maximum particle sizes are such that about 99% of theparticles pass through 60 and mesh screens. All sieve ranges andparticle size designations are made with reference to 11.8. SieveSeries, ASTM Specification E-11-61, which is incoroorated herein byreference.

The following Table I sets forth the relative hardness of three of thepreferred plastic scrubber materials:

TABLE I.PLASTIC SCRUBBER PROPERTIES As shown in the foregoing Table 1,these plastic scrubber particles have a relatively light density andthus can be more easily and more completely rinsed away from the skinduring a conventional Wash with soap and water. Further, they are thusmore easily flushed and washed away with water from surfaces on whichthey have been deposited or from elbows and TS in industrial wash drainsthan in the case of the heavier scrubber particles or of particles ofabrasive mineral or inorganic nature. As shown in Table I, the preferreddensity range is about 0.900 to about 1.100. The preferred hardnessranges would be about as shown in Table I.

As previously mentioned, another advantage of the scrubber particlesformed of relatively soft plastic resin material as against the harderscrubber particles of mineral origin is that the plastic particles donot significantly create abrasive wear to plastic or metal dispenserparts. With over 100,000 cream type dispenser units made of rigidpolyvinyl chloride in use today in industry, scrubber particle materialssupplied in cream, lotion and liquid hand cleaners must not cause undueor excessive wear to such dispenser parts.

The use of plastic resin material for formation of the scrubberparticles is advantageous due to the physical form of the individualparticles. The plastic resin particles appear to be amorphous and haverelatively fewer of the plane faces and sharp points and edges usuallyassociated with crystals such as found in the abrasive particles ofmineral or inorganic origin presently in use. While the plastic scrubberparticles utilized in the instant invention are non-uniform in shape, alarge amount of the sharp points are fused and blunted by the heat andattrition of the grinding process. The result is plastic particles whichimpart a moderate but persistent scrubbing action When placed in thecleaner but without having or imparting a coarse, unpleasant feel to thecleaner itself.

Another configuration of plastic particles investigated forincorporation as a scrubber is the so-called microballons made fromphenolic resin, urea-formaldehyde or polystyrene, among others. Theseare the hollow spheres used for making the syntactic foams. Particlesize of the phenolic and urea-formaldehyde microballons range, ingeneral, from 20 to 60 microns. This range was found too small foreffective scrubber use of spherical particles. However, by screeninglarge samples enough microballon material was collected in the range of40 to 60 mesh (420 to 250 microns) to offer satisfactory scrubberaction.

Field trials have indicated that skin cleansers incorporating plasticresin scrubber particles have been found to offer quicker and moreeffective removal of a wide variety of industrial soils than do liquidor semi-solid (cream or lotion) cleaners not containing such particles.

Hand cleaners of the waterless type containing plastic scrubberparticles in the amounts, types and particle size as disclosedhereinafter can be formulated to be safe to the skin and to be aseffective in removing greasy or tenacious soils, such as adhesives andpartially cured resins, as are waterless cleaners using more activesolvents containing aromatics, kerosenes and chlorinated solvents whichare considered as skin hazards by dermatologists.

It is within the concept of this invention to further enhance thestability of the dispersion by the addition of suitable dipsersingagents to prevent flocculation of the individual particles intoagglomerates.

These dispersing agents have the property of dispersing particles anddroplets. They are used in the low viscosity liquid compositions todisperse the plastic resin particles throughout the cleaningcompositions. Such dispersing agents are not necessary in the heavierviscosity cream compositions. The stability of the dispersion can alsobe enhanced by addition of a thickening agent to increase the viscosityof the suspending medium.

In order to avoid skin irritation, hand cleaners of the waterless typecan be formuated with a low index of skin irritation as determined bystandard dermatologic tests with animals. Such :hand cleaners have anoil base of mineral oil and/or highly purified hydrocarbons such asisoparaffin mixtures from the alkylate process of the petroleumindustry. Formulated as above, these cleaners are not as effectiveagainst greasy or tenacious soils, such as adhesives, coatings, andpartially cured resins as are the waterless cleaners previouslydescribed as using more reactive solvents containing aromatics,kerosenes, and chlorinated hydrocarbons. The effectiveness of waterlesshand cleaners with mineral oil and/ or alkylate base are held to besubstantially improved against the above-named soils, without sacrificeof skin safety, by the incorporation of cfinely comminuted plastic resinscrubber particles therein as taught by the instant invention.

In the selection of ingredients in the makeup if the final cleanerproduct, it is contemplated that materials will be utilized that arecompatable, both chemically and physically, with the above-mentionedplastic resin scrubber particles.

The following examples of formulations provide cleaners in which thecomminuted plastic resin material is utilized so as to enhance soilremoval by offering a scrubbing action. The formulas in the followingexamples are merely used to illustrate the teachings of this invention.

EXAMPLE I A waterless skin cleaner which has the following compositions:

Ingredients Parts Function 1. Mixed isopropanolamine 1. 50 2. TergitolNPX 1. 50 Secondary emulsifier and wetting agent.

3. Tricthanolamlne 1.36 4. Lanolln (anhy.) 3 Emollient. 5. Isoparaifenicoil base 53. 42 il base. 6. Tallow base fatty acid- 8.00 7. Polystyrene(60 mesh) 4. 00 Plastic scrubber. 8. Methyl para hydroxy benzoate 30Preservative. 9. Scent .20 Scent. 10. Water 29.42

In the foregoing example, Items 1, 3 and 6 form a soap which is theprimary emulsifier.

EXAMPLE II A skin cleaner which has the following composition:

Ingredients Parts Function 1. Potash cocoanut oil soap 15. Soap. 2.Alkyl Napthalene potassium sulfonate 0. 4 Dlspersing agent.

polymer dispersant.

3. Scent 0.5 Scent. 4. Polyethylene particles 10.0 Scrubber. 5. Water74. 1

EXAMPLE III A lotion skin cleaner having the following composition:

Ingredients Parts Function 1. Ethanol amine salts of saturated fatty 30.0 Soap and primary acids of the roup havin 012 to C18- emulsifier. 2.Coco diethano amine con ensate 2.0 Secondary emulsifier and Wettingagent. 3. Sodium carboxymethylcellulose thick- .2 Thickener.

ener. 4. Lanolin. 1. 0 Emollient. 5. Bacteriostat .3 Bactexiostat. 6.Dispersant alkyl napthalene potassium 2 Dispersing agent.

sulfonate polymer dispersant. 7. Scent 0.6 Scent. 8. Polyethyleneparticle scrubbers 10.0 Scrubber. 9. Water 55.8

EXAMPLE IV A liquid skin cleaner having the following composition:

Ingredients Parts Function 1. Sodium cocoamid of protein hydrolyzate 6.0 Detergent. 2. Ethoxylated alkyl phenols or ethoxylated pri- 0.5 Do.

mary and secondary alcohols. 3. Linear alkylate sulionate 11. 0 Do. 4.Ethylene glycol mono stearate 2. 0 Emulsifier. 5. Coco diethanolaminecondensate-.. 1.0 Thickener. 6. arm 'n 1. 0 Emollient. 7. Alkylnapthalene potassium sulfonate polymer- 0. 2 Dispersant. 8. 0.3 Scent.9. 8.0 Scrubber. 10. Wat 70.0

EXAMPLE V A lotion skin cleaner having the following composition:

Ingredients Parts Function 1. Sodium coco amide of protein hydrolyzate6. 9 Detergent. 2. Ethoxylated alkyl phenols or ethoxylated 2.0 Do.

primary and secondary alcohols 3. Linear alkylate sulfonate- 11. 0 Do.4. Sodium carboxy methyl cc 0.2 Thickener. 5. Coco diethyl amine oxide2.0 Viscosiy control agen 6. Lanoliu 1. 0 Emollient.- 7. Scout 0.3Scent. 8. Polyethylene particles- 8.0 Scrubber. 9. Water 69.5

5 EXAMPLE VI A semi-solid skin cleaner having the following composition:

Ingredients Parts Function 1. Ethanolamine salts of saturated fattyacids of 25.0 Soap.

the group having Gil-C18. 2. Coco diethanol amine condensate 2.0Detergent. 3. Sodium carboxy methyl cellulose. 0.2 Thickener. 4. Lanolin1.0 Emoll1 ent. 5. Para chloro meta xylenol 0. 3 Bacteriostat. 6. Scent0.6 Scent. 7. Polyethylene particles 10.0 Scrubber. 8. Water 61.0

EXAMPLE VII A waterless cleaner of semi-solid the following composition:

consistency having A waterless skin cleaner of lotion consistency havingthe following composition:

Ingredients Parts Function 1. Coco diethanol amine condensate 1.Neutralizing agent.

2. Ethoxylated alkyl phenols or ethoxy- 1. Emulsiiying agent.

lated primary and secondary aldohols.

3. Oleyl sarcosine 0.3 Anti-corrosion agent.

4. Polyoxyethylene coco amine- 0. 46 Emuls iy ng agent.

5. Carboxy vinyl polymer 0.5 Emulsiiylng agent and thlckener.

6. Odorless mineral spirits 30. 0 Oil base.

7. Lanolin 1. 0 Emolhent 8. Para chloro meta xylen 0. 3 Preservative.

9. Scen 0. 4 Scent.

10. Polyethylene plastic particles 8.0 Scrubber.

11. Water 56.6

In the foregoing examples, it is contemplated that the plastic scrubberparticles can be replaced in each composition by particles formed fromany of the plastic materials set forth in Table I or any other plasticresin material having the same general properties. Thus, the plasticscrubber particles which are utilized could be of polyethylene,polypropylene, polystyrene or any other plastic resin materials havingthe density and hardness characteristics set forth in the foregoingTable I.

It has been found that the range limit of 40 mesh screen, U.S. StandardSieve is critical. In fact, about 99% of the plastic resin scrubberparticles should pass through a 40 mesh screen. Thus, the particlesshould be substantially about 420 microns or less in size, depending onthe particular application involved, i.e. cream, lotion, or liquidcleaners.

Further, it has been found that any particles below 200 mesh screen,U.S. Standard Sieve (about 74 microns) are not effective for use in skincleaners.

Tests have shown that an optimum performance for use in waterless skincleaners is obtained with resin or plastic scrubber particles which passthrough 80 mesh screen, U.S. Standard Sieve. For use in semi-solid soap,optimum performance is obtained by use of plastic scrubber particleswhich pass through a 60 mesh screen, U.S. Standard Sieve.

Generally, particles which pass through 80 mesh, U.S. Standard Sieve(177 microns) and stay on 200 mesh, U.S. Standard Sieve (74 microns)fall in the desirable range of particle size for use in skin cleaners.

Particles which pass through 60 mesh, U.S. Standard Sieve (250 mircrons)and stay on 100 mesh, U.S. Standard Sieve (149 microns), or even on 200mesh, U.S.

Standard Sieve (74 microns), are permissible to impart a noticeablescrub feel for thick lather product.

While several skin cleaner formulations have been set forth by way ofexample, it is pointed out that the broad generic invention consists ofmixing into any skin cleaning composition finely divided particles of aresilient plastic resin material. The particle size, particleconfiguration and amount of the plastic particles being such that thecleaning composition with the plastic scrubber particles therein leavesthe skin surface free from scratches or abrasions from cleaning whileimparting a scrubbing or mechanical detersive action thereto.

It has been found that skin cleaning compositions of the liquid, lotion,semi-solid cream, and cream types are provided utilizing between about 3and 15 percent of the finely divided plastic resin particles therein.These percentages may vary slightly depending on the particle size anddensity of the plastic material utilized to form the particles.

Thus, the basic concept embodied in this invention is the provision of askin cleaning composition having mechanical or detersive scrubbingaction or ability without the use of common mineral or other inorganicabrasive particles therein as has been the practice in the prior knownart.

Further, this invention teaches a method for preparation of cleaningcompositions for the removal of soils from skin surfaces to be cleanedby contact of the cleaning composition with the skin surface to becleaned and with the soils thereon. The method consists of blendingfinely divided particles of a resilient plastic resin material into thecleaning composition, the particle size, particle configuration andamount of plastic material being such that the cleaning compositionimparts a scrubbing or mechanical detersive action so as to remove soilfrom the skin surfaces being cleaned while leaving the surfacesubstantially free of scratches or abrasions from cleaning.

The preceding description and examples serve to teach how this inventionis practiced and applied. Modifications and equivalents will be obviousto those skilled in the art. The invention is therefore to be limitedonly by the following claims.

I claim:

1. A skin cleaning composition which comprises: in admixture with aconventional skin cleaning composition which is substantially free ofnon-resilient abrasive materials, finely divided particles of aresilient synthetic plastic material having a density between about0.900 and 1.100, a particle size substantially in the range of fromabout 74 microns to about 420 microns, a particle configuration which issubstantially free of non-resilient sharp points and edges, where theparticles of the synthetic plastic material leave the skin surfacesubstantially free of abrasion, sensitization or irritation fromcleaning and wherein the composition contains between 3 and 15 percentof plastic particles.

2. The composition of claim 1 wherein the synthetic plastic material isa polyolefin.

3. The skin cleaning composition of claim 1 which is a liquid whereinsaid plastic particles are dispersed in suspension in the liquid.

4. The skin cleaning composition of claim 1 which is a semi-solid skincleaning cream wherein said plastic particles are dispersed in thecream.

5. The skin cleaning composition of claim 1 which is a waterless typeskin cleaner wherein said plastic particles are dispersed in thecleaner.

6. The method of soil removal with skin cleaning compositions whichcomprises: cleaning the skin surface with a conventional skin cleaningcomposition which is substantially free of non-resilient abrasivematerials and which is in admixture with finely divided particles of aresilient synthetic plastic material having a density between about0.900 and 1.100, a particle size substantially in the range of fromabout 74 microns to about 420 microns, a particle configuration which issubstantially free of non-resilient sharp points and edges, where theparticles of the synthetic plastic material leave the skin surfacesubstantially free of abrasion, sensitization or irritation fromcleaning and wherein the composition contains between 3 and 15 percentof plastic particles.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the synthetic plastic material is apolyolefin.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein the skin cleaning composition is aliquid wherein said particles are disperse in suspension in the liquid.

9. The method of claim 6 wherein the skin cleaning composition is asemi-solid skin cleaning cream wherein said particles are dispersed inthe cream.

10. The method of claim 6 wherein the skin cleaning composition is awaterless type skin cleaner wherein said particles are dispersed in thecleaner.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS LEON D. ROSDOL, Primary ExaminerW. E. SCHULZ, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R.

13440; 252120*, 130, Digest 5

